NJ Transit to begin final round of PTC installation

New Jersey Transit will begin its final round of temporary service adjustments on Sunday to facilitate work on installing positive train control, a series of sensors that automatically stop trains in the event of an operator error.

At NJ Transit’s monthly board meeting Wednesday, it was revealed that 74 percent of the installation had been completed and 1,576 employees trained as of Oct. 5. NJT must meet milestones for vehicle installation, training and testing.

Nonetheless, he said the agency will meet the federally mandated deadline of Dec. 31.

Corbett said adjustments to the schedule will impact customers on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Morris & Essex, Montclair-Boonton and Main and Bergen county lines. NJ Transit is offering a 10 percent discount on rail tickets and passes for travel in the months of November, December and January.

Gov. Phil Murphy ordered an audit of NJ Transit in January. His administration inked a $1.3 million contract with Atlanta-based consulting firm North Highland Co. Murphy summarized the audit Tuesday at a press conference.

“The North Highland Co. report assesses the challenges facing New Jersey Transit including providing online service, recruitment and retention,” Corbett said Wednesday. “We worked with North Highland throughout the process to implement suggestions. … More than 11,000 dedicated men and women come to work every day to keep New Jersey moving.”

New Jersey Transit will hold a “We Are Listening” customer forum Thursday at the Hoboken terminal.

Meanwhile, the board voted to approve a $2.9 million contract with Farmingdale-based Hall Building Corp. to construct the New Brunswick train station elevator upgrade.